Catholicism in France
Lourdes, Lisieux and Le Mont St Michel: high points of the Catholic faith in France
Detailed program
Day 1: Toulouse – Lourdes
Arrive in Toulouse late morning.
Drive to Lourdes. Discovery of Lourdes, which embodies the alliance of nature, spirituality, art and heritage.
Visit to the Sanctuary and Grotto of Massabielle, site of the Apparitions.
Dinner and overnight stay in Lourdes.
Day 2: Lourdes
To follow in Bernadette’s footsteps in Lourdes is to discover the familiar places that were once hers: her birthplace, the Moulin de Boly, and the sombre Cachot where she lived with her family. Visit the Musée Sainte Bernadette, which retraces the life of Saint Bernadette, the Message of Lourdes and the construction of the Sanctuary, thanks to a rich iconography and objects that belonged to Bigorre’s most famous child.
Free time at your leisure to visit, experience the baths, the Way of the Cross… at your own pace.
Dinner and overnight in Lourdes.
Day 3: Lourdes – Paris
Transfer by bus to Toulouse train station. Travel by TGV to Paris.
Discover Paris on a panoramic tour of its main sights.
Dinner and overnight in Paris.
Day 4: Paris
A day devoted to visiting some of the main buildings of the Catholic faith. Drive to Montmartre hill and visit the Basilique du Sacré Cœur. Then discover the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse.
Visit the Eglise de la Madeleine and the Sainte Chapelle, built in a record 7 years to house Christianity’s most precious relics, including Christ’s Crown of Thorns, acquired by St. Louis.
Dinner and overnight in Paris.
Day 5: Paris – Lisieux – Caen
Departure by coach for Lisieux. Stop in Rouen and visit of Rouen Cathedral.
Arrival in Lisieux. Accompanied by a guide, visit Saint Therese’s childhood home, the Basilica of Saint Therese in Lisieux and all the Theresian sites.
Drive to Caen.
Dinner and accommodation in Caen.
Day 6: Caen – Mont Saint Michel
In Caen, visit the Abbaye aux Dames and the Abbaye aux Hommes, major Benedictine monasteries founded around 1060 by William the Conqueror and his wife, Matilda, in reparation for the irregularity of their marriage denounced by the Pope.
Drive to Mont Saint Michel. Discovery of Mont Saint Michel and its abbey, a testament to the mastery and expertise of several generations of master builders.
Dinner and overnight in Caen.
Day 7: Caen – Versailles
Return to Paris. Discover the Château de Versailles. In this magnificent château, you’ll discover the grandeur and extravagance of the Old Regime, especially in the Galerie des Miroirs and in its gardens adorned with numerous fountains.
Return to your region from Paris.
Services included
- Transportation by coach or minivan according to the number of participants
- 6 nights in a hotel, youth hostel or accommodation center
- Half-board from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 7
- Visits and excursions as described in the program
- Travel file for tour leader
- VOYEL assistance 24 hours a day
Good to know
Program duration and activities can be modified
Optional / supplement
- Services of a VOYEL guide
- Lunches